Being President is Hard Work
August 31, 2005 4:14 AM   Subscribe

America's President
A lot of dead people. New Orleans in utter chaos. Iraq is going crazy. And George Bush is on a naval base, playing guitar. What is it with the US President? How can a political leader be so insensitive? How can his own team of people be so callous?
posted by tomcosgrave (51 comments total)

This post was deleted for the following reason: there is already a let the bush bashing begin thread.



 
I would also wish to add that I really don't wish to be seen as one who is trolling, because I am not. It's simply that, as a non-US citizen, I simply do not understand the US President. I just don't.
posted by tomcosgrave at 4:18 AM on August 31, 2005


(previously posted here)
posted by uncle harold at 4:20 AM on August 31, 2005


Terrible president, terrible post.
posted by Justinian at 4:24 AM on August 31, 2005


And, yes, terrible comment. Sorry.
posted by Justinian at 4:25 AM on August 31, 2005


God forbid, I'm no Bush lover, but the story says he was just presented with the guitar and so he appears to be just giving it a polite strum.

If he was on stage with Karl Rove and Dick Cheney, entertaining major GOP donors by whacking out hootenanny tunes, or bashing out a Republican version of Don't Fear the Reaper, I think it reasonable to be offended, but if he's going to attend official events, then it doesnt seem unreasonable to act graciously when people give you stuff.

Of course, why anyone would give him anything besides a kick up the arse is a complete mystery to me.
posted by PeterMcDermott at 4:26 AM on August 31, 2005


I actually don't think it's that terrible a post. It just asks an unpleasant question, one I would love to see debated.
posted by tomcosgrave at 4:27 AM on August 31, 2005


I come from Alabama with my banjo on my knee
I'm going to Louisiana, my true love for to see

Oh, Susanna,
Oh don't you cry for me!
For I come from Alabama
With my banjo on my knee
posted by mitocan at 4:28 AM on August 31, 2005


As someone mentioned when this pic cropped up yesterday... He has a presidential guitar!
posted by Acey at 4:28 AM on August 31, 2005


God forbid, I'm no Bush lover, but the story says he was just presented with the guitar and so he appears to be just giving it a polite strum.

Why was he on a naval base when at least two states of his country are in such a mess? At the very, very least, if he's concerned about the war effort, you would think he'd be trying his best to hammer out agreement on the future of Iraq.
posted by tomcosgrave at 4:29 AM on August 31, 2005


"a Republican version of Don't Fear the Reaper"

I don't like that version, too much cowbell.
posted by furiousxgeorge at 4:29 AM on August 31, 2005


I heard Nero played a pretty awesome fiddle.
posted by psmealey at 4:39 AM on August 31, 2005


Bush's working life has pretty effectively demonstrated that the American people are perfectly happy with a president that does fuck-all. The outrage over his vacation time is totally nonexistent. He could be chugging from a bottle of JD in this picture and nobody would care.

Of course, this should alarm you, yes. The post of American President is currently much moreso celebrity than professional.
posted by mek at 4:42 AM on August 31, 2005


Tomcosgrave, I think Bush is an arse, but I don't think you can blame him for this. He has over the past few days been advised of the situation, and now it is up to the people on the ground to get on with helping those caught up in the storm. What do you actually expect the president to do? Go down to New Orleans and get out a mop and bucket?

I am sure there are an awful lot of people working down there to clear up the mess and help those involved. They have jobs to do, they are I am sure trying to do them. The last thing they probably want is the president dropping in for a visit, meaning they have to stop work for a few hours.

As for Iraq, again what do you expect Bush to do? There are diplomats and negotiators trying to find a way forward, trying to get a constitution through the Iraqi parliament. I doubt Dubya's presence would be much use, in fact I can imagine he is the very last person they want involved in such delicate negotiations, not least of all because it is vital that it is seen to be written by Iraqi's alone. Any hint of influence from the US will see it rejected instantly.
posted by bap98189 at 4:43 AM on August 31, 2005


I actually don't think it's that terrible a post. It just asks an unpleasant question, one I would love to see debated.

Bullshit... the post is a troll and you knew exactly what kind of thread to expect. We don't need your "unpleasant questions", that's not was the blue is for. This is a shitty post, if for no other reason than it's a single link to a yahoo news image.
posted by Witty at 4:44 AM on August 31, 2005


Any leader worthhis salt would get his butt into a copter and being buzzing around letting folks know the govt will do what it can, all it can, to help out. A leader leads, is present. period.
posted by Postroad at 4:46 AM on August 31, 2005


Bullshit... the post is a troll

Bullshit: bullshit. Everything the president does is symbolic and this is no exception. He should be surveying the damage in LA, MS and AL, not fucking around on some naval base.
posted by psmealey at 4:49 AM on August 31, 2005


What do you actually expect the president to do? Go down to New Orleans and get out a mop and bucket?

Well, it'd be a great photo op!

Oh, and for the record, yes this post blows.
posted by mek at 4:51 AM on August 31, 2005


Dammit, psmealey. I was too slow.
posted by emelenjr at 4:51 AM on August 31, 2005


Why was he on a naval base when at least two states of his country are in such a mess?

With all that water around, i imagine it's safest place to be.
posted by urbanwhaleshark at 4:52 AM on August 31, 2005


Did he actually produce any palatable sounds? From the picture, it looks like he knows how to voice an open G chord... except one fret too high up.
posted by goodnewsfortheinsane at 4:54 AM on August 31, 2005


I've seen it elsewhere, and it echoes hauntingly here.

Nero fiddled, Bush strummed.
posted by effugas at 4:59 AM on August 31, 2005


Any leader worthhis salt would get his butt into a copter and being buzzing around letting folks know the govt will do what it can, all it can, to help out. A leader leads, is present. period.

And who says he won't? But marching the president around, or even flying him overhead, isn't what New Orleans fucking needs right now.
posted by Witty at 5:03 AM on August 31, 2005


It looks like a really nice guitar though. You have to admit that.
posted by bouncebounce at 5:04 AM on August 31, 2005


At least you can see Bush's reptilian tongue flicking out. Someone alert David Ickes!
posted by Mayor Curley at 5:09 AM on August 31, 2005


"What do you actually expect the president to do? Go down to New Orleans and get out a mop and bucket?"
Well, it'd be a great photo op!
Sure, and then someone would link to THAT picture and slam him for taking advantage of the situation to gain political points.

"The wheels on the bus go round round round..."
posted by mischief at 5:10 AM on August 31, 2005


The resources needed to get him there-and all the requisite secret service, etc would take away from the efforts in Louisiana now.

Y'all act like he's supposed to be Jesus or something. The man ain't God, he is just a chief executive. Sheesh.
posted by konolia at 5:32 AM on August 31, 2005


he is just a chief executive

If he was, he'd have been sacked several times over at this stage.
posted by tomcosgrave at 5:36 AM on August 31, 2005


(psmealy said it all. though the fact that he can't be re-elected and Cheney is going to retire in the dirt rather than run for anything makes him care even less.)
posted by The Salaryman at 5:36 AM on August 31, 2005


The man ain't God, he is just a chief executive.

"I trust God speaks through me. Without that, I couldn’t do my job." - Bush.
posted by kafziel at 5:40 AM on August 31, 2005


Does Woody know about this?
posted by R. Mutt at 5:42 AM on August 31, 2005


Yes, we all despise Herr Bush but this is a crap post. A single link to a photo and a bunch of editorializing does not a FPP make.
posted by three blind mice at 5:42 AM on August 31, 2005


surprise surprise!!! We aren't ruled by the President Bush in the U.S., but rather a secret totalitarian regime which stems its power from the military industrial complex.
posted by j-urb at 5:45 AM on August 31, 2005


Crap post for a crap leader.
posted by R. Mutt at 5:45 AM on August 31, 2005


Here's the concept and it's called "tian ming" or "the Mandate of Heaven".

The Chinese were insightful enough to realize that when catastrophic natural disasters struck their country, it was a sign that their ruler, the Emperor, had lost the Mandate of Heaven and should be turned into kibble for the palace Pekingese.

George "laura calls me 'fucktard'" Bush has lost the Mandate of Heaven. It's that simple.

Watch for his head, coming soon to a pike near you.
posted by the sobsister at 5:49 AM on August 31, 2005


This would normally be a terrible FPP.

But this is a historically significant photo. It's not what he was doing, it's what he wasn't. He's the head of the armed forces, but he wasn't driving them to bring aid to Lousiana. He's the head of the Republican party, and he's not lobbying Congress for relief funds. He's an oil man, and he's not on the phone with Saudi Arabia making plans for alternate ports for their oil. He's a southerner, elected by southerners, and he's not even going to Mississippi on the direct request of Trent Lott -- a Republican ally!

He went to NEW YORK, and not the SOUTH?

The most important thing the President of the United States could do before the hurricane was relax?

The most important thing the President of the United States could do after the hurricane was strum a guitar?

Huh?
posted by effugas at 6:03 AM on August 31, 2005


s/Lousiana/Louisiana
posted by effugas at 6:04 AM on August 31, 2005


Postroad : "Any leader worthhis salt would get his butt into a copter and being buzzing around letting folks know the govt will do what it can, all it can, to help out. A leader leads, is present. period."

Whenever I hear this argument, I think of Winston Churchill. From what I gather, he was a fairly good leader, but I can never see him going out in the field and rolling up his sleeves. I think Bush is a jerk, but I don't think this particularly reflects it.
posted by Bugbread at 6:05 AM on August 31, 2005


Calling Ah Pook, the Destroyer, to post 44701.
posted by eatitlive at 6:12 AM on August 31, 2005


A link to a single picture is a pretty lame FPP. How about a link to the article the picture was in? Would have given some background info on where he was and why. Could be that he had his press conference there about the hurricane? He did after all have one.
That being said. The caption did say he was at the naval base for a VJ(Victory over Japan WWII) day celebation. I would think in light of what just happened down south that he could have blown that off and focused on other things.
posted by a3matrix at 6:13 AM on August 31, 2005


bug--

Heh, he did it in New York, for 9/11.
posted by effugas at 6:13 AM on August 31, 2005


Well at least he's not reading a book about goats to a class of schoolchildren.

(I know I know, sorry I couldn't resist)
posted by funambulist at 6:19 AM on August 31, 2005


Yahoo news link, check. Editorializing, check. Rhetorical questions, check. A position I disagree with, check. TROLL TROLL TROLL!!!!
posted by loquax at 6:19 AM on August 31, 2005


Any leader worth his salt would get his butt into a copter and being buzzing around letting folks know the govt will do what it can, all it can, to help out. A leader leads, is present. period.
...And then people would shred him for politicizing the disaster and 'scoring easy points' to distract people from Iraq. I'm no Bush fan, but let's be honest about it. Bush can be tone-deaf when it comes to showing sympathy at times, but there's no way for him to win on this one.

I think a better comparison might be his behavior during the Terry Schaivo case. THAT was important enough to scramble a jet and fly back to Washington...
posted by verb at 6:22 AM on August 31, 2005


How can a political leader be so insensitive?

Mayor of New Orleans: "This is our tsunami." (he expects 300,000 dead with no warning?)

Governor: "This looks like Hiroshima after the bomb."

Gee, thanks for the western sense of perspective, folks.
posted by dreamsign at 6:23 AM on August 31, 2005


The perfect title to this is "WHILE NEW ORLEANS SINKS".

"What is it with the US President? How can a political leader be so insensitive? How can his own team of people be so callous?"

He thinks he's nobility.
He believes he was choosen by God.
They believe they rule the world.

Also, this photo (or vidcap) is not displayed on mainstream media. Bush standing behind podium adorned with mandatory bunting, a few dozen sailors behind him, talking about how he's organizing the government response to Katrina, gets played every 15 minutes.
posted by raaka at 6:23 AM on August 31, 2005


Well, my hope is that the Administration would have recently cut Louisiana hurricane funds, work on programatically dismantling FEMA, send much of the National Guard to Iraq, and their amphibious vehicles with them - to a desert. Thats all going really well, so I don't see what more they could be doing. A photo-op can't hold a candle to concrete action!
posted by 31d1 at 6:27 AM on August 31, 2005


maybe the "bush-man" is working on a tribute song for the victims of hurricane katrina...maybe at this very minute he's on the line to some of the biggest names in music asking them to join up for the biggest charity relief concert EVAH. did you even think of that? maybe they'll end the whole thing with a star studded version of "when the levee breaks"! katrina-aid 2005 is gonna rock, dude! awesome.

by the way, can someone photoshop a mash-up of this picture and the one of bush "tossin' horns" quick...i think america needs that.
posted by cloudstastemetallic at 6:28 AM on August 31, 2005


I don't think anyone's suggesting that he should be on the scene just now; it's difficult enough for anyone to be in the vicinity. And I'm sure even Bush is cooperating fully with FEMA and the governors of the respective states. The point of this post is probably that he should have backed out of this event for the sake of propriety--it's inappropriate for the president to be participating in a feel-good celebratory event when much of the country is newly in chaos.

But then, it's not much more appropriate to make an FPP that (a) has only one link that's (b) to a photo from Yahoo! and (c) editorializes within its own first paragraph. Boo, tomcosgrave.
posted by Epenthesis at 6:33 AM on August 31, 2005


What is it with the US President? How can a political leader be so insensitive?

*rolls eyes*

I would also wish to add that I really don't wish to be seen as one who is trolling, because I am not.

ROFL

I actually don't think it's that terrible a post. It just asks an unpleasant question, one I would love to see debated.

Please get Matt's permission before posting again. It doesn't sound like you're ready to go it alone if this is what strikes you as a thoughtful, cerebral post intended for serious debate. If you need the world to know what you think of a pic of George Bush, start a bad, self-indulgent blog like everyone else.
posted by dhoyt at 6:33 AM on August 31, 2005


Heh:
Mark Wills found both personal and professional success in Georgia's capital city. He met his wife Kelly there. They married in 1996, the same year that "Jacob's Ladder" jump-started his country career on Mercury Records. That single was followed by a string of top-10 smashes: "Places I've Never Been" (1997), "I Do (Cherish You)" (1998), "Don't Laugh at Me" (1998), "Wish You Were Here" (1999), "She's in Love" (1999) and "Back at One" (2000).
posted by eatitlive at 6:36 AM on August 31, 2005


He should be there meeting with people who have lost everything and assuring them that assistance (funds and otherwise) are coming. And not for a photo op but because he's the leader of the country and it's the right thing to do when something catostrophic like this happens.
posted by gfrobe at 6:36 AM on August 31, 2005


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